Lincoln Democrats React to Almond's annual report comments

LINCOLN – The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee has issued a response to “Administrator Almond's apparent disdain of the split tax system used in Lincoln.”

Party Chairman Timothy McMahon said he bases his comments on a speech the Administrator gave to members of the local business community last Tuesday at the Coastway Credit Union on Front Street, which was covered by the Breeze.

“Mr. Almond says he disapproves of the split tax system because it taxes Lincoln businesses at a higher rate than residents,” McMahon said. “What the Administrator doesn't say is that the elimination of the two-tiered system would result in a tax reduction for businesses at the direct expense of Lincoln homeowners.” 

“For a speech meant to promote Lincoln's fiscal responsibility, this line of thinking seems a bit hypocritical – almost to the point of pandering to the small business crowd he’d gathered for the speech” McMahon added. “In these economic times, it is hardly responsible to shift the burden of a select few onto an entire community already struggling to make ends meet.”

McMahon concluded by noting that under the Town Charter, the Town Administrator sets the tax rates based on the budget passed at the annual Financial Town Meeting. “After the FTM, the Administrator has the power to set a lower tax rate for businesses and a higher rate for residents,” McMahon said, "I hope he won't plan to give tax breaks to businesses at the expense of the homeowners, when the homeowners are already being squeezed by higher taxes and fees."

 

 

 

 

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